St. Philomena & Pink Floyd

[Contarini]

Sorry about that. It was the first site I came across that talked about Pink Floyd and its dangers.

So clearly you had made up your mind before you went searching. You were just looking for support for an opinion you already held. Why bother looking in that case?

I would also suggest that this points to the futility of “guilt by association.” You can smear anyone this way. Why not just focus on whether the thing itself is true and good? Is there anything bad about the quote used in the book? If not, why fret?

Edwin

 

[Joe_5859]

I tried the link in the OP and the site has since been cancelled. Evidentally, Pink Floyd fans and Catholics aren’t the only ones offended by the site.

In my mind, there’s no scandal here. Bud McFarlane quotes Bad Religion in one of his Catholic novels, and they’re much more anti-religious than Pink Floyd. A quote is just a quote. If the author was saying “St. Philomena endorses Pink FLoyd and encourages the drug culture that frequently surrounds those who listen to their music”, then I can see taking issue with it.

I think the drug associations of Pink Floyd have more to do with the slow-moving, trippy ambience of their music rather than something they themselves are promoting. I know plenty of drug-free individuals who also enjoy their music.

When looking at any lyrics, it’s important to take the context into account. It’s not uncommon for artists to utilize allusion, including references to familiar religious themes. As CuddyDuck pointed out, they may do so in a way that is not entirely sensitive to religious sensibilities, but oftentimes it is not intentionally anti-religious. Not being religious themselves, it’s simply harder for them to take religious sensitivities into account.

 

[CTA1967]

I tried the link in the OP and the site has since been cancelled. Evidentally, Pink Floyd fans and Catholics aren’t the only ones offended by the site.

In my mind, there’s no scandal here. Bud McFarlane quotes Bad Religion in one of his Catholic novels, and they’re much more anti-religious than Pink Floyd. A quote is just a quote. If the author was saying “St. Philomena endorses Pink FLoyd and encourages the drug culture that frequently surrounds those who listen to their music”, then I can see taking issue with it.

I think the drug associations of Pink Floyd have more to do with the slow-moving, trippy ambience of their music rather than something they themselves are promoting. I know plenty of drug-free individuals who also enjoy their music.

When looking at any lyrics, it’s important to take the context into account. It’s not uncommon for artists to utilize allusion, including references to familiar religious themes. As CuddyDuck pointed out, they may do so in a way that is not entirely sensitive to religious sensibilities, but oftentimes it is not intentionally anti-religious. Not being religious themselves, it’s simply harder for them to take religious sensitivities into account.

Well said!

 

[CTA1967]

I tried the link in the OP and the site has since been cancelled. Evidentally, Pink Floyd fans and Catholics aren’t the only ones offended by the site.

Um… the link works just fine for me. Think we could get it cancelled, though?

 

[Joe_5859]

Um… the link works just fine for me. Think we could get it cancelled, though?

It works for me now, too. Before, it was taking me to a screen saying that “this user’s account has been cancelled”. Perhaps their registration lapsed.

In any case, it’s back up now, so we can all enjoy it.

 

[RickM]

Dave –

When I first wrote the outline for “I Ask St. Philomena” in 2002, it was on a yellow legal pad. I jotted that Pink Floyd quote in the margin. It really speaks to who she is … Stranger (we knew nothing about her before discovery of her tomb), Legend (one of the most active and powerful saints facilitating divine intervention through Our Lord) and Martyr (the tiles sealing her tomb and the arrangment of her remains inside revealed that she died for her Christian faith). She is the ONLY saint ever recognized as such strictly on the basis of her post-humous miracles. Those who know her will tell you that even in the distinguished company of the angels and saints, she shines exceptionally bright.

That quote in the margin of the loose-leaf pad survived through the initial book draft, 3 re-visions, through the aquisitions editor at the publisher, through the final edited manuscript sent to print and now appears on every copy of the book. Yes, it is different than what you see in many other Catholic books and so is St. Philomena. This book was designed to reach out to an audience including Catholics and beyond. To further spead the truth behind our doctine of the Communion of Saints – something many Protestants have never understood. Today, I receive letters from around the world from people of diverse faiths (Catholics, Protestants, Hebrew, even Native American Tribe) recognizing the efficacious power and beauty in the Communion of Saints, one of the most enduring pillars and valuable treasures of Catholicism.

As far as Pink Floyd goes, a VERY talented and cerebral band. I enjoy some of their work, and some of it I really don’t care for. Interestingly, after my book was published I found out the particular song from which the quote came, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was written for a friend of theirs who suffered from mental illness. St. Philomena is one of the few saints who has been effective in securing divine intercession for people suffering from these types of disorders, and is often recognized as the patron saint of people with mental illness

I hope people will read “I Ask St, Philomena” with a wide open mind, not to simply reinforce what they have already heard, but to expand their understanding of our Communion with Our Lord’s most celebrated servants.

God Bless -

Rick Medina

 

[CTA1967]

Neat, thanks for posting!

 

[wabrams]

Dave –

When I first wrote the outline for “I Ask St. Philomena” in 2002, it was on a yellow legal pad. I jotted that Pink Floyd quote in the margin. It really speaks to who she is … Stranger (we knew nothing about her before discovery of her tomb), Legend (one of the most active and powerful saints facilitating divine intervention through Our Lord) and Martyr (the tiles sealing her tomb and the arrangment of her remains inside revealed that she died for her Christian faith). She is the ONLY saint ever recognized as such strictly on the basis of her post-humous miracles. Those who know her will tell you that even in the distinguished company of the angels and saints, she shines exceptionally bright.

That quote in the margin of the loose-leaf pad survived through the initial book draft, 3 re-visions, through the aquisitions editor at the publisher, through the final edited manuscript sent to print and now appears on every copy of the book. Yes, it is different than what you see in many other Catholic books and so is St. Philomena. This book was designed to reach out to an audience including Catholics and beyond. To further spead the truth behind our doctine of the Communion of Saints – something many Protestants have never understood. Today, I receive letters from around the world from people of diverse faiths (Catholics, Protestants, Hebrew, even Native American Tribe) recognizing the efficacious power and beauty in the Communion of Saints, one of the most enduring pillars and valuable treasures of Catholicism.

As far as Pink Floyd goes, a VERY talented and cerebral band. I enjoy some of their work, and some of it I really don’t care for. Interestingly, after my book was published I found out the particular song from which the quote came, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was written for a friend of theirs who suffered from mental illness. St. Philomena is one of the few saints who has been effective in securing divine intercession for people suffering from these types of disorders, and is often recognized as the patron saint of people with mental illness

I hope people will read “I Ask St, Philomena” with a wide open mind, not to simply reinforce what they have already heard, but to expand their understanding of our Communion with Our Lord’s most celebrated servants.

God Bless -

Rick Medina

Syd Barrett’s “mental illness” is the from doing too many drugs; he basically fried his brain.

 

[CTA1967]

Wouldn’t that just be even more reason to write a song for him?